Library image Photo by Lachlan Gowen on Unsplash
Maidstone Borough Council is working with Emergency Exit Arts to bring a bright and colourful walking Arts Carnival ‘Wild about Maidstone’ to the town centre on Saturday 15 July from 2pm.
Everyone is welcome to see the amazing spectacle which will have more than 350 people taking part, including dancers and performers, local primary and secondary school pupils and participants from community groups. The Carnival is being funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and will also include two Samba bands; Old School Samba and South London Samba who will be part of the procession and the finale event.
The procession will start from Archbishops Palace at 2pm, walking through the town into Brenchley Gardens where there will be a finale event with music from 2.45pm until 5.3Opm.
In preparation for the stunning parade Emergency Exit Arts have been holding workshops with all the schools involved to create their eye-catching carnival costumes and headwear.
Cllr Claudine Russell, Lead Member for Communities, Leisure and Arts at MBC said: “This will be a fantastic walking carnival, I am really looking forward to seeing the beautiful costumes. The huge magnificent Firebird looks stunning and will form a great centrepiece.”
Four free public workshops will be taking place on the following dates and everyone is welcome to come along, create a carnival headdress and be a part of the procession:
- 24 June – Fremlin Walk
- 1 July – Lock Meadow
- 8 July – The Mall
- 15 July Royal Star Arcade
Claudine continues: “We are also involving community groups in workshops and will be using a retail unit in The Mall to display more information about the carnival and any finished costumes, headwear and artwork for passers-by to see. One of our key priorities is to make Maidstone a Thriving Place and the Arts Carnival reflects that. Make a date in your calendar for this free town centre spectacle.”
The event is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.